Jonatan started dancing at the age of 11 at the Swedish Ballet School in Gothenburg, and continued from 2001 to 2005 at the private ballet school Draper Center for Dance in Rochester, upstate New York. Now he is a soloist with the Royal Swedish Ballet, previously principal dancer with Estonian National Ballet, dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, Houston Ballet and Rochester City Ballet.
Jonatan has performed on some of the world’s most renowned stages, including the Bolshoi Theatre for Benois de la Danse 2019 and La Fenice in Venice as Solor in La Bayadère. His career has taken him across North America and Europe with companies such as the National Ballet of Canada and Houston Ballet. He has also represented his artistry at major international galas and competitions, including the Helsinki International Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a professional dancer and currently a soloist with the Royal Swedish Ballet. I’ve worked with five different companies across Europe and North America.
Ballet demands both strength and precision. And what does a typical day look like for you now? How do you take care of your body to maintain balance and well-being?
It’s a very physically demanding job. We put a lot of strain on our bodies every single day. We start with a ballet class in the morning, usually an hour and a half, beginning around 10 AM, and then rehearse until about 5 PM, five days a week on average. Some days we also have evening performances, which means less recovery time. You finish late, sleep a few hours, and then have to get up and do it all again at 10 AM, still performing at your best. When we dance, we wear socks, soft canvas shoes, or pointe shoes that don’t provide much support, so in our “off time”, when we’re not dancing, we want to wear something that helps us, something that gives proper support.
What was the first reaction when you were asked to join the campaign for Stinaa.J? Had you heard of the brand before?
Honestly, I hadn’t heard of the brand before, but when I learned what you do, helping people take care of their bodies through well-designed, supportive shoes, I was really impressed. It felt natural for me, a product that I could genuinely want myself. I was thrilled to be part of a campaign that promotes both well-being and performance, and excited to help promote something that I actually need in my own life. I’ve tried other orthopedic shoes over the years, but honestly, they don’t look very good. So this was a great combination, it felt perfect for me, and that’s what I always strive for
What did you look forward to the most when you joined this collaboration?
Probably the fact that the product is something I would actually use and feel good wearing, and that looks great. After performances, we often attend galas or events, and I usually end up in pain from standing around in dress shoes that look good but feel awful. This collaboration felt like the perfect fit. For me, it was also about connecting with the people behind the brand, especially Peter, who’s worked with top athletes for decades. It was fascinating to hear his perspective on body alignment, and after trying the shoes, I was surprised to find that I now prefer them to my running shoes.
As a dancer, body alignment and posture are everything. Could you feel the difference when wearing the shoes?
They were very comfortable walking and even running. We were doing a lot of leaps during the shoot, and I felt stable landing from them, supported, comfortable, and maybe even a little taller, which is always a plus. It was amazing to do a photoshoot jumping on gravel and hard surfaces while still feeling supported. Normally, in ballet or contemporary work, we don’t have that kind of shoe, so I really value the hours outside the studio, they’re our recovery time. The orthopedic insoles and structure of the shoes really help my alignment. I have slightly flat arches, so I feel much more supported and balanced when I wear them.
What moment during the shoot stood out to you the most?
The settings and locations were all gorgeous, you chose such beautiful places. It was an intense day with a packed schedule and lots of locations, but the energy was great. Especially the one by the lake, it was dark and glassy, with reflections on the water, such a stunning spot. And of course, eating! (laughs) Great team, great energy – and amazing food!
How would you describe what “New Shoes, New Life” means to you personally?
As dancers, or as people in general, we have one body and one life, we need to take care of it. If we don’t, we start to feel limited, even at a young age. To me, New Shoes. New Life means that when you wear these shoes, your body feels better, healthier, and more capable. It’s such a simple and relatable concept.
What was it like modelling for a brand that puts wellness at the core of fashion?
It felt very natural. I’ve tried orthopedic shoes before, but I always stopped wearing them because they weren’t stylish. The combination of one foot in fashion and the other in well-being is unique, and it fits perfectly for me. It just felt right. When your well-being improves because of the shoes you wear, that’s a big return. And it’s not even a huge investment, considering what you get back. Think about how much we spend on things like physiotherapy or osteopath visits, compared to that, good shoes are a small investment.
In one sentence, how would you describe the collaboration with Stinaa.J?
Exciting, creative, and fun. That’s three adjectives, but they sum it up perfectly. It’s been a natural, exciting, and fun collaboration in every way.
